Anatomy & PhysiologyQuestion 70 of 100
A student asks why an EKG can look normal in a patient whose heart is not pumping effectively. What is the best explanation?
a.The EKG measures blood pressure, not electrical activity
b.The EKG only records the atria
c.EKG machines are frequently inaccurate
d.The EKG records electrical activity, and electrical activity can be present without effective mechanical contraction
Explanation
An EKG records only the electrical events of the heart, so an organized rhythm can appear on the monitor while the heart produces no pulse, a situation known as pulseless electrical activity. This is exactly why the technician always confirms the patient's condition rather than treating the monitor. The EKG does not measure pressure or output, and it records both atrial and ventricular activity.
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Related questions on this topic
- What is the correct order of the cardiac electrical conduction pathway?
- Why does the impulse pause briefly at the AV node, and how does that pause appear on the EKG?
- What is depolarization?
- What is the correct path of blood through the heart, starting with deoxygenated blood returning from the body?
- Which valve separates the right atrium from the right ventricle?
- When does blood flow into the coronary arteries to supply the heart muscle itself?
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